By Owais Ashraf, Agence India Press,
Srinagar: Authorities again imposed curfew in many uptown and old city areas on Thursday to scuttle a separatist protest March call for ‘Lal Chowk Challo’, which was given by hardline Hurriyat led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, spearheading the ongoing “Quit Kashmir Movement.”
Shops, educational institutions, offices were closed and public transport was off the roads in summer capital.
“Curfew was imposed in the areas falling under the jurisdictions of police stations Kothibagh, Maisuma, Kralkhud, Sadder, Shergari, Shaheedgung, Batamaloo, Safakadal, M R Gung, Khanyar, Nowhatta, and Rainawari of Srinagar city,” a police spokesman told Agence India press.
He said similar restrictions were also enforced in Sopore town, Sangrama, Watergam, Dangiwacha and Ladoora areas of Baramulla district.
“Curfew has been imposed to maintain law and order in the city,” said a senior police officer in Srinagar.
The concertina wires were been laid on the roads leading to Lal Chowk and barricades erected to prevent entry of people into the square.
Normal life was disrupted in many parts of Kashmir Valley due to the curfew imposed in these two districts and restrictions on the movement of people in some other areas, the sources said.
Both pedestrian and vehicular movement has been restricted in the city.
The hardline Hurriyat group, led by Syed Ali Geelani, has called for a ‘Lal Chowk Chalo’ march to the city centre as part of its Quit Kashmir campaign that has adversely affected life across the Valley for over four months.
Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers have been deployed in strength in the city.
The police spokesman said the preceding night passed off peacefully and the situation was so far under control in the Valley. (AIP)